In D.C. Area, a Superdelegate Tug of War

Thirteen remain publicly neutral in Maryland, as do six in Virginia, including Sen. James Webb and C. Richard Cranwell, state party chairman.

Early last month, the leaders of 40 county and city Democratic committees in Virginia upped the ante by strongly urging the state's superdelegates to "act now" in throwing their support behind Obama, who the party officials said is more likely than Clinton to win the state in the fall.

"It is not like it was even close in this state," said Fairfax County Democratic Committee Chairman Scott A. Surovell, one of the organizers of the effort.

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, co-chairman of Obama's campaign in Maryland, is using a similar argument in his efforts to persuade that state's undeclared superdelegates.

The petition drive in Virginia offended several superdelegates committed to Clinton, who said they are supposed to base their decision on who would be a stronger nominee against McCain.

"There is something to be said about taking a look at what happened in Pennsylvania and why Barack Obama couldn't close the deal," said Susan Swecker, a Democratic National Committee member from Richmond who supports Clinton.

Swecker said, however, that she is surprised that the public is so engaged. Last week, the owner of a landfill chased her down when she was dropping off recyclables to ask her to vote for Obama.

Rep. Rick Boucher (D), an Obama supporter, is also getting heat from Clinton supporters in his district in rural southwestern Virginia, where Obama failed to get 15 percent of the vote in several counties. Boucher said that if superdelegates "were simply expected to cast their vote in accordance with the primary results, in the state they represent or the district they represent, there would really be no need for superdelegates."

The pressure being put on African American superdelegates who support Clinton, such as McClellan and Spruill, appears to be having an effect.

Raymond H. Boone, editor and publisher of the Richmond Free Press, the city's African American newspaper, said McClellan and Spruill "are opening the door to trouble" in their next election if they do not support Obama.

"I think there is going to be heavy retaliation against both of them," said Boone, whose newspaper endorsed Obama.

McClellan is struggling to balance her constituents' wishes with her support for Clinton, who helped her get started in politics. "I'm being asked to go back on my word," she said.